Oct 21 2009
A parent asks whose fault is it? The system, SEAB, parents, teachers or students?
I am a mother of two girls. My first daughter went through PSLE two years ago and it’s my second daughter’s turn this year. Being a parent who had gone through two years of PSLE where the Math paper was said to be difficult, I could empathise with those parents who showed anxiety and concern over this year’s Math questions.
As a parent, an ex teacher and a tutor, I view PSLE in different perspectives. I beg to differ on Clarice Sim’s blog when she mentioned that students came out crying after the Maths exam. These are 12 year old kids we are talking about. It is not so much of not being able to face failure or feeling guilty but more of being frustrated for not being able to do their utmost best. At that point of time, obviously and definitely they will feel demoralise after putting in a lot of effort preparing for PSLE. Even we as adults do feel the same way when things do not go our way, what more a 12-year-old child!
I have no idea how the overall Math paper was. Based on the grouses by my students and news information plus the questions that I managed to get from the media or my daughter, I must say that the questions were quite tough for an average 12-year old. My daughter came home and wrote down some of the difficult Math questions as best as she could remember (a few questions were similar to those that have appeared on media). Students are supposed to finish each question (Section C: Problem Sums) under 10 minutes, which they were not able to it. Maybe adults will also find difficulty doing the sums under 10 minutes, what more a 12-year-old.
I supposed SEAB has its own set of objectives when setting the questions. One of the reasons probably is to identify the cream of the crop. However, the cream of the crop may only constitute about 10% of the cohort and the majority of the students are average while a handful is below average. I believe, as an ex teacher, they should set a certain number of difficult questions for the high flyers. However, even my A* student complained the paper being too tough. So who or what is at fault here? The system, the setters in SEAB, parents, teachers or students?
Wartik Hassan is a mother of 2 girls, aged 14 and 12 years. A former school teacher and tutor with about 15 years of teaching experience. She is now working in CRPP (Centre for Research of Pedagogy & Practices) at NIE doing educational research work. Currently pursuing a degree in English Lang in Unisim.
3 responses so far
We have to undersand the direction of the MOE as stated…. “The primary aim of mathematics curriculum is to enable pupils to develop their ability in Mathematical Problem Solving and deal with problems that cover a wide range of situations from routine mathematical problems to problems in unfamiliar contexts and open-ended investigations that make use of the relevant mathematical thinking processes”
Overall, the education system and the mathematics curriculum aim to help pupils develop competencies that are useful in a global, technological knowledge-based economy. The world economy is getting more and more complex each day. We faces many uncertainties like SARS, flu virus…All these are complex and unfamiliar cases that the world had not face before. Therefore our kids needed to be trained to face all these unfamiliar problems…
I remember a lecture I had attended by Dr Yeap who quote “If we teach our kids only basic computations..these computation can be easily performed by a simple calculator worth $2, then our kids is only valued $2. But if we train our kids how to solve problems when facing unfamiliar scernario, they be be valued by the industry and able to compete in the market…”
Actually parents should not be duly worried and have trust in our Singapore education system.
First of all, who confirms that the Cream of the Crop could answer those questions correctly.
In fact, for real challenge, all Maths Head from each should sit for the Maths paper to prove that all of them can answer those questions as well. This is fair to show that those challenging questions are NOT OUT of the PSLE World.
Why challenge within the PSLE exam?
There should be National Maths teacher and Maths student Challenge Competition annually to prove that the teachers taught well and the students learnt well.
Why put the challenge only to the students and not to the teachers?
Incidentally, why does the MOE feedback from parents not carried out as an independent questionnaire for all parents? Only one parent from each level picked by the school is interviewed by the MOE survey officer while the rest of the parents are left out in the cold. Such survey is absurdly unrepresentative of all the parents. There should be a 100% feedback from all parents if we are sincere about improving our education system. Also, why are text books required to be purchased by students but are not taught at all? Many parents have many questions and feedback for the MOE. MOE should be interested and make an official effort to collect all the feedback and answer all the questions for all the parents.
There should be an Annoymous Improvement Feedback Hotline available to all parents as well as students if we really all the facts and happenings.
PSLE questions are not consistent with primary school syllabus. Just compare the text book vs the exam questions, you will find the mismatch. Furthermore, such questions will not help in the daily maths that are required for daily survival,meaning if the primary kid can do such math, he or she may not be able to do the daily arithmetic required for daily survival. Those were only whiz kids good in theory! Is this what the primary math should cover? Don’t think this is face issue. Imagine a 12 year old kid of the level of maturity to resolve whiz math which cannot apply in real life (not all of these kids what to be professor in mathemetics in their future). No wonder teachers and parents resolve to putting presure to work on passed years series rather than school/MOE syllabus. A good arithmetic with 100% accurate in +,-./x cannot pass PSLE math. What a pity!